Just came across this quote by Pierre de Coubertin, the guy who brought about the modern Olympic games (as opposed to the Ancient Olympian games held in Olympia, hence the name - quick history note!)
"There are two ways of understanding internationalism. One is that of the socialists, the revolutionaries, and in general of theoreticians and utopians... The second is that of men who make observations without prejudice and take reality, rather than their favourite ideas, into account. For a long time now, these men have realized that national characteristics are an indispenable precondition for the life of a people and that, far from weakening them, contact with other people makes them sharper"
One of Coubertin's visions for the Games was that the athletes would become like 'ambassadors of peace', and like in the ancient Games where warring cities would actually stop warring for a month while they competed in the Games (which were also a religious festival), the Games would affect world politics in the same way. But come WWI the Games got cancelled, rather than themselves cancelling the war, and Coubertin did his duty and entered the army. (Just for some context of that quote because ppl called him a hypocrite for entering the war)
Anyway, reflecting on various events of the past week, I was thinking that as well as referring to internationalism, that quote could also refer to 'interpersonalism', which is now officially a word! It can be hard to work out how to live life according to theories and visions, and it's only by experience or God-given wisdom that you can judge situations in their 'reality, rather than ... favourite ideas'. I also like that 'rather than weakening them, contact with other people makes them sharper' bit at the end - going into Uni I was a bit apprehensive about what being surrounded by new and different ideas and philosophies might do to me. But it does actually make you sharper, working out your own beliefs in the midst of people who think differently. One of the reasons I want to go to Rwanda is to experience different people and places, which I guess ties into it as well!
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Did you hear about the country that stopped its civil war because the country's soccer team qualified for the World Cup? It might have been Rwanda.
I can't wait to watch it again- remember how much we got into it in 2002? Watching it after s@s and everything. Too bad Australia is pitted against Brasil first.
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